MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)-For more than four years, drivers in Horry and Marion counties haven’t had to stop for a train. In just a few days from now, all of that is going to change.
Later this week, drivers can expect to see an operating train in Marion county and then next week, trains should be rolling through Horry county too.
Right now those trains can only go ten miles per hour, but that’s likely going to change soon. Bill Henderson with RJ Corman said the company wants the trains to be able to travel at 25 miles per hour. Right now, the infrastructure isn’t strong enough for that to happen.
R J Corman will apply for a grant in April that would help with enhancing the infrastructure of the rail line. The idea behind a faster moving train is to attract more businesses to the area that would in turn, create more jobs.
“Advanced manufacturing in other areas which is a very broad industry classification but you think about carbon fiber you think about metal work, auto suppliers, aerospace suppliers, manufacturing jobs. Those are our target industries we approach on a day in and day out basis,” said Josh Kay, president and CEO of MBREDC.
Josh Kay also said they’d at least like to create 50-100 jobs with a manufacturer.
He said that is a safe number for when and if the economy dips again, it wouldn’t be detrimental to the people of Horry county.
